shiva
nounUS /ˈʃɪvə/
Etymology From Hebrew שִׁבְעָה (shiv'á, “seven”), referring to the number of days that shiva spans.
1
Judaism A weeklong period of formal mourning for a close relative.
- Did you know that some parents sit shiva […] for 30 days if their child is discovered to be gay?1974 February 2, “Jewish Gay Group”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 32, page 2:
- Seymour: Audrey, quick! We've got to do an emergency [flower] arrangement. […] Mr. Mushnik: The Shivas are our most important funereal account. A big, enormous family, they're dropping off like flies!1986, Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)
1 more example
- “Mo Kellman lost his wife ten years ago.” “Does that mean the shiva is over?”2014, Suri Rosen, Playing with Matches:
- Derived terms
- sit shiva